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Pre-start-up coaching; applying for funding

Founders can apply for a subsidy for coaching measures before starting up or taking over a business.

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Online services

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Handwerkskammer für Unterfranken

Street address

Rennweger Ring 3
97070 Würzburg

Postal address

Postfach 5804

97008 Würzburg

Website

www.hwk-ufr.de

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Industrie- und Handelskammer Nürnberg für Mittelfranken

Street address

Hauptmarkt 25/27
90403 Nürnberg

Postal address

90331 Nürnberg

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Street address

Marienstr. 2
90402 Nürnberg

Postal address

Marienstr. 2

90402 Nürnberg

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Procedure details

Purpose

Pre-start-up advice is an important instrument for increasing the chances of success and securing the long-term future of business start-ups and company takeovers. The aim is to give founders and company takeovers the opportunity to take advantage of coaching services in good time in order to successfully launch their business.

Object

Funding is provided for coaching measures for plausible and probable start-up projects or planned business takeovers by eligible applicants. Coaching measures on economic, financial and organizational issues prior to the planned business start-up or business takeover are eligible for funding. The focus must be on business management advice.

Recipients of funding

Eligible applicants are

  • Business founders who are resident and plan to set up a business or at least a future branch in Bavaria before setting up or registering a business as their main occupation in the commercial sector (trade, crafts, industry, hospitality and tourism, other services, transport, etc.) and in the liberal professions that meet the EU definition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • In addition, founders with their place of residence and planned future company headquarters or at least future branch office in Bavaria who wish to switch from their already registered secondary occupation to their main occupation.
  • The planned participation in a company in Bavaria is also considered to be an eligible business start-up if at least 15% of the capital shares are acquired and the founder will have management authority.

Eligible costs

Expenditure on business management consultancy is eligible for funding.

Type and amount

A maximum of 10 consulting days are eligible for funding. The maximum eligible consultancy fee is EUR 800 per day. Of this, 70% is granted as a subsidy. Funding is provided by way of reimbursement, i.e. the grant is only paid out once the consultant invoice has been paid in full.

The grant can be applied for by business founders or business transferees before setting up a business or before registering a business as their main occupation in the commercial sector, trades and liberal professions. The main place of residence and the planned company headquarters must be in Bavaria.

The projects must comply with the general project selection criteria "Methodology and criteria for the selection of projects from the ESF+ Bavaria 2021-2027 and the current funding guidelines as well as the requirements of the program "Working and Living in Bavaria - Future Opportunities for Europe" ESF+ Bavaria 2021-2027.

Coaching may only begin after approval has been granted by the approval body and the consultancy contract has been concluded.

The grant can only be paid if

  • the consultancy invoice has been paid in full and the founder has provided evidence of this by submitting an original bank statement or a statement of turnover, whereby the own financial contribution to be made may not come from ESF+-funded funds from other measures, and
  • the necessary accounting documents have been submitted on time during the approved approval period.

  • De Minimis Declaration
  • Settlement documents
    • Original invoice from the consultant
    • Invoice form
    • Final report
    • Original bank statement or account turnover statement as proof of payment
  • Results of the consultation, if applicable

    (e.g. completed business plan, financing concept, marketing strategy, location analysis, etc.)

The first point of contact for coaching is the relevant competent body (local Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Skilled Crafts or Institute for Liberal Professions).

An application for coaching must be submitted to the relevant approval body (Nuremberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Middle Franconia, Chamber of Skilled Crafts [except HWK Swabia] or Institute for Liberal Professions) before the coaching begins. Founders from the skilled trades sector from the administrative district of Swabia can contact HWK Oberbayern and HWK Mittelfranken

The approval offices support the founder in the application process with the choice of consultant, approve the grant and arrange payment.

If the grant application is submitted electronically without a certified signature, it is only valid if the original printed document signed by the applicant (grant application together with the de minimis declaration) is received by the responsible approval office within 14 days.

The applicant must pay 30% of the consultancy costs themselves.

Applications for funding must be submitted before the coaching begins.

up to 8 weeks

Supplement: Handwerkskammer für Unterfranken

Status: 27.05.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie
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